Ex-soldier convicted in Iraq rape, 4 slayings

PADUCAH, Ky. (AP) - A federal jury convicted a former soldierThursday of raping and fatally shooting a 14-year-old girl afterkilling her parents and younger sister while he was serving inIraq.

Pfc. Steven Dale Green faces a possible death sentence when thepenalty phase of his trial opens Monday in the unusual case of acrime in a war zone being prosecuted in civilian court.

Green, 24, of Midland, Texas, was being tried in federal courtbecause he had been discharged from the Army for a personalitydisorder before he was charged with the Iraq crimes. Green staredstraight ahead as the verdict was read in U.S. District Court inwestern Kentucky.

"Is this verdict a surprise to us? No. The goal has always beento save our client's life," Wolff said. "And, now we're going togo to the most important phase, which is the sentencing phase andwe're going to accomplish that goal."

The lead prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa Ford,declined comment.

The trial began April 27, and jurors deliberated for more than10 hours beginning Wednesday before finding Green guilty. Jurorsdidn't look at Green as they entered the courtroom before theverdict was read.

Green's defense team had asked them to consider the "context"of war, saying soldiers in Green's unit of the 101st AirborneDivision lacked leadership. Defense attorneys also said the Armymissed signs that Green was struggling after the loss of friends incombat and that it offered little help to him and other soldiers inhis unit.

The prosecution rested six days into the trial after presentingwitnesses who said Green confessed to the crimes and others who puthim at the home of 14-year-old Abeer Qassim al-Janabi, heard himshoot her family and saw him rape and shoot the girl.

During opening arguments, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Skaretsaid Green talked frequently of wanting to kill Iraqis, but whenpressed, would tell people he wasn't serious. In the weeks beforethe attack on the family, several soldiers from Green's unit werekilled in combat.

In closing arguments, Ford said the March 12, 2006, crime wasplanned and premeditated. "This was a crime that was committed incold blood," she said.

Prosecutors told jurors that the plot against the family washatched among Green and fellow soldiers who were playing cards anddrinking whiskey at a checkpoint. Talk turned to having sex withIraqi women, when one soldier mentioned the al-Janabi family, wholived nearby, Skaret said.

Three other soldiers are serving time in military prison fortheir roles in the attack, and testified against Green at histrial.

Green's father, John Green, declined to comment on the verdict.But he told The Associated Press that he may testify during thepenalty phase of the trial.

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